Charles Wesley

God buries his workmen, but carries on his work.

Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was a leader of the Methodist movement, the younger brother of John Wesley. Despite their closeness, Charles and his brother did not always agree on questions relating to their beliefs. In particular, Charles was strongly opposed to the idea of a breach with the Church of England into which they had been ordained. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many hymns he wrote.

Quotes

• Love divine, all loves excelling,
  Joy of heaven to earth come down,
  Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
  All thy faithful mercies crown;
  Jesu, thou art all compassion,
  Pure unbounded love thou art,
  Visit us with thy salvation,
  Enter every trembling heart.
  • "Hymn IX" of "Hymns for those that seek and those who have redemption in the blood of Jesus Christ", in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley Vol 4. (1868), edited by G Osborn, p. 219

• God buries his workmen, but carries on his work.
  • As quoted in Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (1889); this appears with two quotes of John Wesley on the monument to both men in Westminster Abbey, and is commonly attributed to John.

Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home…

• Hark how all the welkin rings,
  "Glory to the Kings of kings;
  Peace on earth and mercy mild,
  God and sinners reconciled!"
  Joyful, all ye nations, rise.
  Join the triumph of the skies.
  Universal nature say
  "Christ is born today!"
  • "Hymn for Christmas-Day"; these opening lines were revised by Wesley's co-worker George Whitefield in 1754, along with lesser alterations to subsequent lines, to produce the more familiar "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (alternate versions at Wikisource):
  • Hark! the herald angels sing,
    "Glory to the new-born King;
    Peace on earth and mercy mild,
    God and sinners reconciled!"
    Joyful, all ye nations, rise.
    Join the triumph of the skies.
    With th'angelic hosts proclaim
    "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
    Hark! the herald angels sing,
    Glory to the new-born King!

• Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace!
  Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
  Light and life to all he brings,
  Risen with healing in his wings.
  Mild he lays his glory by,
  Born that man no more may die,
  Born to raise the sons of earth,
  Born to give them second birth.
  • "Hymn for Christmas-Day"

• Come, Desire of nations, come,
  Fix in us thy humble home;
  Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
  Bruise in us the serpent's head. . . .
  Adam's likeness, Lord, efface;
  Stamp thine image in its place.
  Second Adam from above,
  Reinstate us in thy love.
  • "Hymn for Christmas-Day"

• Jesus, lover of my soul,
  let me to Thy bosom fly,
  While the nearer waters roll,
  while the tempest still is high.
  Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
  till the storm of life is past;
  Safe into the haven guide;
  O receive my soul at last.
  • "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"

• And can it be, that I should gain
  An Int'rest in the Saviour’s blood!
  Dy'd He for Me? ---- who caus'd his Pain!
  For Me? ---- who him to Death pursu'd!
  Amazing Love!  how can it be
  That Thou, my GOD shouldst die for Me?
  • Wesley J and Wesley C (1743), "Hymns and Sacred Poems", 4th edition, page 78, at archive.org. Wikisource Full text.

• "CHRIST the LORD is ris'n To-day,"
  Sons of Men and Angels say,
  Raise your Joys and Triumphs high,
  Sing ye Heav'ns, and Earth reply.
  • Hymns and Sacred Poems (1743), by John Wesley and Charles Wesley, 4th edition, p. 144
  • Modernized variant:
  • "Christ the Lord is risen to-day,"
    Sons of men and angels say.
    Raise your joys and triumphs high;
    Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply!
    Love's redeeming work is done,
    Fought the fight, the battle won,
    Lo! the Sun's eclipse is o'er,
    Lo! He sets in blood no more.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

Quotes reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895).

• Depth of mercy! — can there be
  Mercy still reserved for me?
  Can my God His wrath forbear?
  Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
  • p. 273

• One family — we dwell in Him,
  One church above, beneath,
  Though now divided by the stream,
  The narrow stream of death.
  • p. 150

• Other refuge have I none;
  Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
  Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
  Still support and comfort me!
  All my trust on Thee is stayed,
  All my help from Thee I bring;
  Cover my defenseless head
  With the shadow of Thy wing.
  • p. 591

Disputed

• Why should the Devil have all the best tunes?
  • Attributed to Wesley in America Over the Water (2004) by Shirley Collins, p. 113, it is earlier attributed to his brother John, in The English Poets: Addison to Blake (1880) by Thomas Humphry Ward, and even earlier to George Whitefield, in The Monthly Review, or, Literary Journal, Vol. 49 (June 1773 - January 1774), p. 430; this has also been reported as a remark made by Rowland Hill, when he arranged an Easter hymn to the tune of "Pretty, Pretty Polly Hopkins, in The Rambler, Vol. 9 (1858), p. 191; as well as to William Booth, who popularized it as an addage in promoting The Salvation Army.

External links

• Hymns by Charles Wesley
• Hymns and sacred poems, 4th edition, by Wesley, John and Wesley, Charles, Bristol, 1743. At archive.org.
• The Journal of Charles Wesley
• Osborn G (1868), "The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley. Vol 1.", London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office. At archive.org. And also volumes 2 to 13.